C21 Gain and Loss(2)

At that moment, the Sect Master of the Sunfire Order cast a glance over the assembled crowd and declared, "Within the next three years, I expect a disciple from our Sunfire Order to rank among the top ten on the Soaring Cloud Ranking!"

Many heads bowed upon hearing these words. Kong Yu's brazenness stemmed partly from his father's influence and partly from his own talent. Despite only being sixth on the Soaring Cloud Ranking, he had the audacity to provoke others on the Sunfire Order's territory. Adding insult to injury, there was no one capable of standing up to him.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, go back to your cultivation. Anyone who dares to dredge up today's events will find me without mercy!" With those final words, the Sunfire Order Sect Master vanished from sight.

Ye Hu glared at Lin Feng, his face twisted with bitterness. Today's events had cemented their enmity. Yet he was no fool; the Sect Master's words were crystal clear. Even as an elder, he wouldn't dare defy the Sect Master's decree, for if he incited the middle sect's wrath, no one could save him.

But as Lin Feng turned to leave, the voice of an elder echoed in his mind, "Young one, the path of the mighty is forged by constantly tempering one's spirit. True authority is reserved for the strong alone."

Lin Feng couldn't help but smile at the message. He had grasped this principle of survival over a thousand years ago.

...

Several days had passed since the incident, yet the ripples it caused hadn't settled. The matter remained a popular topic of conversation in people's leisure time, but Lin Feng remained indifferent.

Currently at the peak of the Qi Sea Stage, he was merely a step away from the Astral Sea Stage—so close, yet akin to reaching for the heavens.

Lin Feng was not one to rush his progress or rely on miraculous elixirs to artificially boost his strength. He knew that a skyscraper starts from the ground up and that haste does not bring success.

Eager to enhance his capabilities, Lin Feng understood the importance of steady progress. Only by laying a solid foundation could he hope to travel further on his journey.

Upon entering the Astral Sea Stage, one would experience a profound transformation. At that point, they could commune with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, marking the essential distinction between Outer Sect and Inner Sect disciples. Only those who reached the Astral Sea Stage were eligible to join the Inner Sect.

Half a month flew by in an instant. Lin Feng remained as still as a fallen meteor atop Heavenly Fall Peak. With each passing moment, wisps of Spiritual Qi were drawn into his body with his breaths.

Meanwhile, a man and a woman approached Lin Feng's location.

"Ah Jiao, the Spiritual Qi here is excellent. A few days of dedicated cultivation could significantly boost your strength!"

"Stop it!" Ah Jiao chided, playfully slapping the man's arm and blushing like a young girl, though her eyes danced with allure. Her delicate hands continued to flirtatiously stroke his chest.

Bai Qing, a twenty-year-old at the Ninth Level of the Qi Sea Stage, had artificially enhanced his strength through the use of medicinal pills. In a real battle, he would likely be defeated swiftly. His pale complexion and sickly appearance were telltale signs of excessive indulgence.

His brother, however, was a talented Inner Sect disciple, which was precisely why Ah Jiao had agreed to pair with him, aiming to gain access to cultivation resources. The physical pleasure she derived from their encounters was an intoxicating bonus.

The pair entered the cave side by side, with Bai Qing eagerly embracing Ah Jiao, his hands wandering. She resisted briefly and discreetly pointed to a nearby figure, whispering, "Cut it out, there's someone over there!"

"Huh?" Bai Qing, initially aroused, was now visibly irritated. Following Ah Jiao's gesture, he spotted a young man seated in meditation on the ground.

Chapter 22 was a disaster!

Bai Qing and Zheng Jie scowled at the sight, their annoyance palpable.

"Let's leave and find another spot," suggested Ah Jiao with a slight pout.

"Leaving?" Bai Qing chuckled. Despite both being at the Ninth Level of the Qi Sea, his brother's influence allowed him to swagger through the Outer Sect with few exceptions to his bullying.

"Let's just drop it," suggested the delicate girl standing by.

"Drop it? Why should a dog be allowed in a place meant for people? Watch how I handle him!" Bai Qing's eyes flashed menacingly. Meanwhile, Lin Feng was deep in cultivation, and any interruption could ruin his progress or even cause mental derangement.

"Fine," A-Jiao conceded, holding her tongue.

Bai Qing quickly approached Lin Feng, who, sensing the disturbance, slowly opened his eyes.

Taken aback by Lin Feng's alertness, Bai Qing regained his composure and coldly offered, "You have two options. Crawl away like a dog, or I'll cripple you."

"Really?" Lin Feng's cold smile betrayed no surprise.

"Enough talk. You have three breaths to decide," Bai Qing said, holding up three fingers.

Smack!

But as his words hung in the air, Lin Feng moved like lightning, appearing behind Bai Qing and delivering a resounding slap to his head.

Bai Qing tumbled, stars swirling before his eyes and blood streaming from his nose.

Lin Feng was relentless, stepping on Bai Qing's kneecap, eliciting another howl of pain.

"You think you can intimidate me with those pathetic moves?" Lin Feng towered over him.

"I beg you, please spare me! I won't dare again!" Bai Qing, realizing his defeat, dropped to his knees pleading for mercy.

"So, you admit your mistake?" Lin Feng's smile was deceptively benign.

"Yes, yes, I know I was wrong!" Bai Qing bobbed his head frantically. Just when he thought he was in the clear, a sharp pain erupted in his abdomen, followed by the sound of his energy vortex shattering. His spiritual Qi spiraled out of control, and in moments, he was utterly broken.

As Bai Qing lay sprawled on the ground like a lifeless dog, Lin Feng dismissed him with a wave of his hand, "Today, I'll leave you breathing. But if there's a next time, be ready for someone to come and pick up your body!"

Thanks to his extraordinary physique, honed from his training, Bai Qing was able to escape the cave with great effort, despite his severe injuries. Throughout the ordeal, not a hint of concern crossed A-Jiao's face.

Lin Feng didn't rush off after the incident. He had a hunch that his adversary would return, and sure enough, roughly the time it takes an incense stick to burn later, a white-robed youth entered, followed by the previously defeated Bai Qing, now wearing a look of sheer malice.

"Brother, this animal is the one who ruined my cultivation. You must get revenge for me!" Bai Qing stared at Lin Feng with venomous eyes.

The newcomer was Bai Jiang, a disciple of the inner sect. To him, nearly all members of the Outer Sect were insignificant.

"Rest assured, I'll soon teach him what a fate worse than death truly feels like!" Bai Jiang's rage had reached its peak for the harm done to his brother.

"Brother, I want to imprison this mongrel and torment him at my leisure!" Bai Qing declared.